Duke pleads guilty to fraud charges

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — David Duke, the former Ku Klux Klan leader and politician who spent the past three years overseas preaching "white survival," pleaded guilty Wednesday to bilking his supporters and cheating on his taxes.

Duke, 52, could get up to 15 months in prison and $10,000 in fines under a plea bargain reached with federal prosecutors. He is free on bail until his sentencing March 19.

The plea to felony charges also disqualifies Duke from running for public office again.

He pleaded guilty to mail fraud and filing a false return shortly after the indictment was filed Wednesday.